Smoke's Taron Egerton didn't know about bombshell finale twist
"At the end of the show, you realise something quite profound I just didn't know was coming."
Apple TV+’s new crime drama, Smoke, packs some surprising twists and turns that were even withheld from some of the main cast.
The nine-part series follows Rocketman’s Taron Egerton as Dave Gudsen, an enigmatic arson investigator who joins forces with a troubled detective, Michelle Calderone (Jurnee Smollett), to attempt to catch two serial arsonists.
Inspired by Truth Media’s podcast Firebug, the series offers a fresh spin on the story, which includes some major revelations in the final two episodes that left even Egerton in disbelief.
Creator Dennis Lehane, the mind behind Blackbird and the author of Shutter Island, didn’t tell Egerton about his character’s journey ahead of reading each script, which the actor believes only strengthened his performance.
"At the end of the show, you realise something quite profound about Dave that I just didn't know was coming," Egerton shared.
"Dennis really kept that from me, and it was a hugely exciting prospect for me as an actor because it means I'm kind of very wilfully playing against a type if I have one.
"I just think it's such an interesting different piece, this show, and Dennis did something really imaginative and I'm very glad to be a part of it."
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Lehane wanted to ground the series in real reactions, such as keeping those secrets under wraps, as well as using real fire throughout the show, as opposed to relying on visual effects.
Egerton praised the crew for their "incredible" practical effects, as, though it was "intimidating" working with real fire, it helped the actor become more immersed in his role. There was just one downside.
"Well, you stink to high heavens at the end of the day," Egerton continued. "That’s the bit about it that I don't enjoy. Gets really right into your skin, that very acrid, burny smell.
"I try to maintain a sense of wonder when I'm working and being like, holy s**t, look at what I get to do for a living. This is cool. I certainly felt that way about the fire stuff.
"It's incredible to see people create those practical effects. It's quite intimidating and can be quite full on. But, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel safe."
It also meant that Egerton and his co-stars were very "present" when filming each scene on set, as they had to interact and be mindful of the real flames.
"As an actor, it really makes you feel alive and present because it's a lot, but it just looks so amazing in camera and I was always very excited by the sequence that I'm closely involved with in that first episode with the fire, because it's a hugely significant beat for the character."
Smoke is available to stream on Apple TV+.
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Authors
Jess Bacon is a freelance film, culture and TV critic and interviewer who is obsessed with everything from Marvel to Star Wars to the representation of women on-screen. Her work has been featured in publications such as Rolling Stone, GQ, Stylist, Total Film, Elle, The Guardian, Digital Spy, Dazed, Cosmopolitan and the i. She’s also interviewed the likes of Zendaya, Brie Larson, Amy Adams, Dan Levy, Aaron Pierre and Brian Cox. In between overanalysing her favourite new comfort watch or internet trends, she’s working on her debut non-fiction book.
